Home care workers' oral health awareness and practice for disabled elderly

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The purpose of this study was to investigate the level of oral health awareness, and to explore the needs for home care workers to provide oral health care for disabled elderly. We conducted a questionnaire survey at two home-help service centers and a social welfare council. Subjects for this investigation were 63 home care workers. The results were as follows: 1. Ninety-six percent of home care workers thought it was necessary to provide oral health care for disabled elderly, but only 11 percent of them put oral care into practice on a daily basis. 2. From the results of a cause and effect diagram, necessities of oral care were summarized as six major causes: 1) Disabled elderly are often unable to brush their teeth, 2) The oral hygiene level may affect physical condition, 3) Disabled elderly should be protected from oral diseases, 4) Disabled elderly should have their mouths kept clean, 5) Eating and swallowing may become increasingly difficult, 6) Disabled elderly should take in adequate nutrition. 3. Sixty-eight percent of home care workers took part in a training course of nursing care including oral care. 4. Home care workers, dentists, dental hygienists, and nurses taught oral health care to home care workers. 5. From the results of a cause and effect diagram, there were three major items that home care workers want to know: 1) denture management, 2) the routine of oral care, 3) infection control. 6. Home care workers recognized that oral care should be provided by family members of disabled elderly or home care workers.